Exhibits and Programs at the National Gallery of Art

Opening Exhibitions

The Eye of the Sun: Nineteenth-Century Photographs from the National Gallery of ArtSeptember 8–December 1, 2019 West Building, Ground Floor, Inner Tier
On the 180th anniversary of photography’s introduction to the world in 1839, an exhibition of some 140 photographs offers an in-depth look at the development of the medium throughout its first 50 years. The Eye of the Sun draws from the Gallery’s rich holdings of 19th-century photographs and features many works which have not been on view previously.More information…

Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence September 15, 2019–January 12, 2020 West Building, Main Floor
The first monographic exhibition on Andrea del Verrocchio examines the wealth and breadth of his artistry by bringing together 50 masterpieces in sculpture, painting, drawing, and precious metals, with proposals for several new attributions. Technical research explores Verrocchio’s materials and techniques, offering revelations about his artistic choices. A film accompanies the exhibition.More information…

The Touch of Color: Pastels at the National Gallery of Art September 29, 2019–January 26, 2020 West Building, Ground Floor, East Outer Tier
Some 70 exquisite examples drawn from the Gallery’s permanent collection trace the history of pastel from the Renaissance to the 21st century and examine the many techniques that artists have developed to work with this colorful and versatile medium. On September 29, exhibition co-curators Kimberly Schenck and Stacey Sell present an introductory lecture.More information…

——————————

Now on View

Oliver Lee Jackson: Recent Paintings Through September 15, 2019 East Building, Mezzanine
Some 20 paintings created over the past 15 years—many shown publicly for the first time—weave together influences ranging from the Renaissance to modernism.More information…

By the Light of the Silvery Moon: A Century of Lunar Photographs Through January 5, 2020 West Building, Ground Floor
The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. This exhibition presents some 70 works, from the 19th century to the “space-age” 1960s, which merge art with science and transform the way that we envision and comprehend the cosmos.More information…

——————————

Programs

STORYTIMESeptember 6 from 10:00 to 11:00 (First Friday of the month through January 2020) West Building, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue entrance
Together we’ll read a book aloud, move, and play. We welcome all ages, especially our youngest visitors and nursing parents. If arriving late, please meet in Gallery 39 on the Ground Floor, West Building. The featured children’s book will be read in both English and Spanish. Storytime is free of charge; advance registration is not required.More information…

FILM SERIESBarbara Hammer: Boundless September 7–22; see individual films for dates and times East Building Auditorium
For more than half a century, artist and filmmaker Barbara Hammer created works unique in sensibility, subject matter, and influence. Exploring lesbian identity, politics, and personal narrative, and delving into visceral manifestations of pleasure, pain, aging, and infirmity, Hammer used the camera as an extension of her body to discover ways of communicating experience. This series features shorter formats and includes new prints courtesy of the Academy Film Archive, as well as restorations by Electronic Arts Intermix and the Academy through the National Film Preservation Foundation and the Film Foundation.More information…

AFTER HOURS NGA Nights: Back to SchoolSeptember 12, 6:00–9:00 p.m. East Building
School’s back in session during the Gallery’s first after-hours event of the fall. Relive your best (or worst) school dance memories with classic jams by DJ Heat, draw a Picasso-inspired portrait, and take a spin on the NGA trivia wheel. Pop-up talks explore elements of art, while Tracy Wilson and Holly Frey, hosts of the hit podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class, look at the lesser-known history of the color blue during a live auditorium show.More information…

LECTUREConversations with Artists: Oliver Lee Jackson September 15, 2:00 p.m. East Building Auditorium
A conversation between the artist Oliver Lee Jackson and Harry Cooper, senior curator and head of modern art, marks the last day of the exhibition Oliver Lee Jackson: Recent Paintings, which presents 20 paintings created over the past 15 years, many of which are being shown publicly for the first time.More information…

LECTUREThe Living Legacy National Speaking Tour: David C. Driskell and Curlee R. Holton in Conversation September 22, 2:00 p.m. East Building Auditorium
The David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora organized the Living Legacy National Speaking Tour to present, celebrate, and document the achievements and legacy of its founder, David C. Driskell. This tour highlights Driskell’s contributions as an artist, scholar, and cultural historian and the contributions of African American artists to the country’s artistic heritage. The conversation will be streamed live at nga.gov/live.More information…

CONCERTwild Up September 22, 3:30 West Building, West Garden Court
In their Washington, DC, debut, Los Angeles–based new music collective wild Up presents “A Portait: Julius Eastman,” a program that includes Eastman’s “Joy Boy” and “Femenine.”More information…

——————————

NEW ONLINEThe Sculpture of David Smith (1906–1965), Parts 1 and 2
David Smith expanded the vocabulary of sculpture by employing welding and industrial processes and materials, laying the groundwork for the directness of minimalism and the realization that sculpture could be anything the artist desired. Here, senior lecturer David Gariff explores Smith’s revolutionary art through a discussion of some of his most important and innovative works, including the Agricola, Tanktotem, Sentinel, Zig, Voltri, and Cubi series.View part 1 online… View part 2 online…

SHOPSVerrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence Catalog
In conjunction with Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence, a beautifully illustrated catalog presents a comprehensive survey of Verrocchio’s art, spanning his entire career and featuring sculptures, paintings, and drawings, including works he created with his students. In incisive scholarly essays, in-depth catalog entries, and breathtaking illustrations, exhibition curators and conservators draw on the latest research in art history and technical analysis to show why Verrocchio was one of the most innovative and influential of all Florentine artists.Shop…